Numbers

Anyone who watches baseball can tell you, in old-fashioned anecdote, that everyone’s striking out. Currently, teams are striking out in 23 percent of their plate appearances. In April of last year, that number was 21.7 percent. In April 2016, 21.3 percent. Slowly but surely, we’re reaching a game of the Three True Outcomes—or, more accurately, Two of the Three True Outcomes. Just not the two you’d think. And the approach from the mound might tell the story.

By some combination of stubbornness, intrigue, and luck, I dropped in on the Diamondbacks’ best season start in franchise history. Spring training rumblings convinced me to buy into the NL West, and my focus immediately went to the 93-win team overshadowed by its LA rival. So far, the D-backs’ start—and the division—has been fascinating.